Computer Frozen? How to Fix a Frozen Computer

Is your computer frozen? It happens at the worst times, doesn’t it? One minute, you’re working on that key proposal for a project.

Then, everything stops, and it doesn’t start again. You have a frozen computer on your hands.

So, what do you do? Oftentimes, our instinct is to click desperately for signs of life. Yet, nothing happens…

There’s no reason to panic, though! When you need tech repair on your time, HAILaGEEK is here to help. Our trusted technicians help people through some of the most frustrating device problems.

Below, we take a look at why computers freeze and crash. Moreover, we help you find a fix for your frozen computer. If you need immediate assistance, though, remember that our technicians are just a few clicks away!

Why Is My Computer Frozen?

With a computer frozen in time, it’s hard to know the cause. In fact, there are plenty of reasons for a computer to freeze or even crash.

• Power problems

• Charging issues

• Running too many applications at once

• Software issues

• Extreme temperatures

• Hardware problems

• Computer viruses and other malware

Ready for some good news? Here are a few workarounds to help save you time as you try to suss out the cause of your computer crashes.

What to Do When Your Computer Freezes (or Crashes)

Is your Apple computer frozen? Does your PC keep crashing? Don’t worry, our team of technicians is ready to help.

When you want to find the cause behind your frozen computer, here are a few common troubleshooting methods.

Restart Your Computer

With your computer frozen, this might sound harder than it is. Usually, restarting your device is the most effective way to fix a frozen computer. Not sure how?

The easiest way to restart a computer frozen in time is to hold down the power button. Hold it for 5-10 seconds. This allows your computer to safely restart without a complete loss of power.

* Important tip:

Keep in mind that restarting your computer will not save any new changes you’ve made to what you were working on since the last time you were able to save.

In some cases, it’s tempting to just cut off the power completely. Resist that urge for now.

Additionally, it’s a good idea to disconnect any headphones or extra cords, especially USB cords. It’s not common, but these have the potential to cause glitches in the restart process.

Then, is your computer frozen in the start-up process? That means it’s time to explore a different option.

Shut Down Apps & Programs That Cause a Computer to Freeze

When too many programs run at the same time, it overwhelms the operating system. Usually, this causes your computer to slow down. At first, you might blame slow wifi, but when you notice other apps start to drag, there’s a different issue.

Activity Monitor (Apple) and Windows Task Manager are great tools to help you force quit applications that hoard memory. This helps your device run smoothly.

Before your computer freezes again, take a moment to see what’s running.

Task Manager: How to Force Quit Programs in Windows

1. Hold down CTRL + ALT + DEL together.

2. Open the Task Manager.

3. In the bottom left corner, click “More Details.”

4. Under “Processes,” you can see a table with different applications as well as Processor, Network, Memory, and Disk.

5. Double click on the “Applications” column to see what applications use the most resources.

6. Click “End Task” for applications that hoard your computer’s resources.

Activity Monitor: How to Force Quit Programs in Mac

1. Hold down Command and the Space bar until you see the Spotlight search bar.

2. Type in “Activity Monitor.”

3. When Activity Monitor launches, you can see a list of open applications.

4. Look for any applications marked “Unresponsive.”

5. Select the unresponsive applications and click the Stop icon in the upper left corner.

6. This causes a pop-up menu to appear.

7. Choose one of the following options.

8. Quit: This is the same as choosing Quit in the menu of an application. It only works when your Apple computer deems it safe to close it. When quitting the app might cause data loss, the app continues to run.

9. Force Quit: This causes the application to shut down completely. If the app has files open, this may result in data loss. Additionally, if other applications rely on this app, it may cause temporary problems.

Note:

If your PC or Mac crashes after you force quit applications, it may be necessary to uninstall them. Likely, they are incompatible. This could be why you have a frozen computer.

Need help with your frozen computer? Tired of troubleshooting? With HAILaGEEK, you have access to trusted technicians when and where you need them! Check out the app and get help today.

Start Your Computer in Safe Mode

Is your computer frozen again even when you close out resource-hoarding apps? Safe Mode is a great way to protect your computer from crashing or freezing.

Unlike force quit, this completely bypasses any unnecessary apps throughout the startup process. Unfortunately, it also disables video games, high-resolution graphics, and other applications. That’s why it’s best to save it for critical problems.

Run Safe Mode in Windows 10

1. Hold down the power button for about 10 seconds to turn off your frozen computer.

2. Turn it on again.

3. When you see the Windows logo appear, press and hold down the power button again for 10 seconds.

4. Turn on your computer and repeat this process again for a third time.

5. Press the power button once more to turn the device back on.

6. Now, allow the device to restart completely. This puts your computer into Windows recovery mode.

7. Then, you should see “Choose an option.”

8. Choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.

Once the device restarts, you should see a list of options. Choose option 5 or hit F5 for Safe Mode with Networking. This allows your computer to connect to the Internet.

From there, your PC restarts in Safe Mode. To exit this mode, just restart your device again.

Run Safe Mode on Your Mac

With an Apple computer frozen, it’s a little trickier. You have to know what processor your Mac uses. To figure this out, follow these directions (if possible).

1. Click the Apple in the upper left corner.

2. Choose “About this Mac.”

3. A pop-up menu appears with details about your computer. If it uses a Silicon chip, it says Chip. With an Intel processor, it shows the work Processor.

I See “Processor”:

1. Click the Apple icon.

2. Choose Shut Down.

3. Wait 10 seconds after your computer powers down to restart.

4. When you restart, immediately hold down Shift.

5. Release it when you see the login window.

6. This sends your Mac to Safe Mode.

I See “Chip”:

1. Click the Apple icon.

2. Select Shut Down.

3. After the computer shuts down, wait 10 seconds and power it on.

4. Hold the Power button until you see the startup window.

5. Select a startup disk.

6. Hold the Shift key.

7. Click “Continue in Safe Mode” and release Shift.

8. This sends your Mac to Safe Mode.

To exit Safe Mode on your Mac, simply restart your computer without holding any keys down.

Stumped by Safe Mode? We get it. Oftentimes, this is a frustrating process.

When you need help with your frozen computer, call on a technician from HAILaGEEK. We offer tech repair when and where you need it!

Update the Device Drivers on Your Computer

If you have a computer frozen currently, this isn’t helpful. However, once your computer is back in action, this helps to prevent future freezes and crashes.

For an operating system, device drivers are crucial. Like a manager, they tell different parts of your computer how to do their jobs. However, a bad manager causes problems.

When your drivers are outdated or not functioning right, it can lock up your device. Usually, these drivers update automatically. Still, some need manual updates.

This is especially true if you have a new printer or install a new monitor. Sometimes, these things cause a computer to crash.

On an Apple computer, you probably need to update the entire operating system. In Windows, you can update the drivers alone.

How to Update Windows Device Drivers

1. Open the search box in your taskbar.

2. Search for “Device Manager.”

3. This causes a pop-up to appear that shows device categories.

4. Select any category to see a list of associated devices.

5. Right-click on a device.

6. Select “Search automatically for updated driver software.”

7. Then, update your driver.

Update Your Computer’s Operating System

Your operating system manages the programs on your computer. Moreover, it makes sure they all function together properly. To prevent computer crashes and freezes, ensure it’s updated.

This is also crucial because updates to your operating system often contain security patches. These help to protect your device from cyberattacks and viruses.

Here’s how to update your operating system on a PC and Mac.

Update Windows

1. Click on the Windows icon.

2. Go to Settings > Update & Security.

3. Click Windows Update.

4. Then, check for updates.

Update Mac OS

1. Click the Apple icon.

2. Go to System Preferences.

3. Select “Software Update.”

Is Your Computer Frozen? Get HAILaGEEK!

If you have a frozen computer and feel stuck, don’t panic. We covered plenty of troubleshooting above. However, when you have a computer frozen in front of you, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.

When you have trouble resolving your issue, check out the HAILaGEEK app. Our mobile support technicians meet you wherever you are to provide tech repair when and where you need it.

Let us help you figure out why you have a frozen computer and how to fix it. To have a geek at your door ASAP, sign on at www.hailageek.com, download the app from the Play Store or App Store and sign on, or call (844) 4DA-GEEK !

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